Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The Sully Baseball All Star Ballot for 2012

It's that time of the year again... the time when we immortalize a player for being an All Star based upon a good first half or by being a mandatory pick from a lousy team.

It's the All Star ballot time!

Now last year they handed out All Star roster spots like a T-Ball League hands out trophies. Evidently everyone got one.

My rosters will be a little more reserved. I have 34 spots including the nine starters (and DH), reserves and pitchers (with a smattering of lefties thrown in.)

Each team is represented.

AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL STARS

Starters

Catcher
– A. J. PIERZYNSKI, White Sox

First
Base – PAUL KONERKO, White Sox

Second
Base – ROBINSON CANO, Yankees

Shortstop
– DEREK JETER, Yankees

Third
Base - MIGUEL CABRERA, Tigers

Left
Field – JOSH HAMILTON, Rangers

Center
Field – ADAM JONES, Orioles

Right
Field - MARK TRUMBO, Angels

Designated
Hitter – DAVID ORTIZ, Red Sox

Pitcher – JUSTIN VERLANDER, Tigers

Reserves

Reserve
Catcher – JOE MAUER, Twins

Reserve
Catcher – MATT WIETERS, Orioles

Reserve
First Baseman – PRINCE FIELDER, Tigers

Reserve
Second Baseman – JASON KIPNIS, Indians

Reserve
Shortstop – ELVIS ANDRUS, Rangers

Reserve
Shortstop – ASDRUBAL CABRERA, Indians

Reserve
Third Baseman – ADRIAN BELTRE, Rangers

Reserve
Outfielder –BILLY BUTLER, Royals

Reserve
Outfielder –EDWIN ENCARNACION, Blue Jays

Reserve
Outfielder –JOSH REDDICK, Athletics

Reserve
Outfielder –ALEX RIOS, White Sox

Reserve
Outfielder – MIKE TROUT, Angels

Pitchers

JASON HAMMEL, Orioles

FELIX HERNANDEZ, Mariners

JAKE PEAVY, White Sox

DAVID PRICE, Rays

CHRIS SALE, White Sox

JERED WEAVER, Angels

C. J. WILSON, Angels

JONATHAN BROXTON, Royals

JIM JOHNSON, Orioles

JOE NATHAN, Rangers

CHRIS PEREZ, Indians

FERNANDO RODNEY, Rays

NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL STARS

Starters

Catcher
– YADIER MOLINA, Cardinals

First
Base – JOEY VOTTO, Reds

Second
Base – BRANDON PHILLIPS, Reds

Shortstop
– STARLIN CASTRO, Cubs

Third
Base – DAVID WRIGHT, Mets

Left
Field – CARLOS GONZALEZ, Rockies

Center
Field – ANDREW McCUTCHEN, Pirates

Right
Field – CARLOS BELTRAN, Cardinals

Designated
Hitter –RYAN BRAUN, Brewers

Starting
Pitcher – R. A. DICKEY, Mets

Reserves

Reserve
Catcher – CARLOS RUIZ, Phillies

Reserve
Catcher – BUSTER POSEY, Giants

Reserve
First Baseman – ADAM LaROCHE, Nationals

Reserve
Second Baseman – JOSE ALTUVE, Astros

Reserve
Second Baseman– AARON HILL, Diamondbacks

Reserve
Shortstop – RAFAEL FURCAL, Cardinals

Reserve
Third Baseman – DAVID FREESE, Cardinals

Reserve
Outfielder – MICHAEL BOURN, Braves

Reserve
Outfielder – MELKY CABRERA, Giants

Reserve
Outfielder – ANDRE ETHIER, Dodgers

Reserve
Outfielder – MATT HOLLIDAY, Cardinals

Reserve
Outfielder – GIANCARLO STANTON, Marlins

Pitchers

MATT
CAIN, Giants

JOHNNY CUETO, Reds

GIO GONZALEZ, Nationals

ZACK GREINKE, Brewers

COLE HAMELS, Phillies

JAMES McDONALD, Pirates

WADE MILEY, Diamondbacks

STEPHEN STRASBURG, Nationals

AROLDIS CHAPMAN, Reds

TYLER CLIPPARD, Nationals

CRAIG KIMBRELL, Braves

HUSTON STREET, Padres

A few notes...

- You can't accuse me of being a homer. I have more Royals (2) than Red Sox (1) on the All Star Squad.

- I put both Billy Butler and Jonathan Broxton on the squad to appease the home town fans. Jose Bautista was the odd man out.

- I opted for Alex Rios over Curtis Granderson. I have a feeling that pick will come back to bite me.

- Josh Reddick and his power put him on the club as the A's rep.

- Nobody on the Mariners deserves a trip. I selected Felix Hernandez because at least he had earned it in the past. Nobody should add "All Star" to their resume on the Mariners without earning it.

- I picked Huston Street over Carlos Quentin for the Padres rep. Neither has played enough to merit selection, but at least Street has a good save total. Also he has never been an All Star and deserved to be when with either Oakland or Colorado.

- Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo should be All Stars. Albert Pujols should not be. Who predicted that?

- Most A.L. All Stars? According to me, the White Sox! Who predicted that? Nobody.

- Most N. L. All Stars? According to me, the Cardinals! Things could look good for the Defending Champs!

We'll see how many get picked.As I wrote last year, I think the season should START the season with the All Star Game. But nobody listens to me.